Farm Management Survey, 2021

Source: Statistics Canada

Environmental practices on Canadian farms

The Farm Management Survey is conducted every five years as a follow-up to the Census of Agriculture. The subjects covered are varied but can generally be linked to the environmental impact of the Canadian agriculture sector. The latest release of the Farm Management Survey focuses on whether Canadian farms are progressively adopting more sustainable practices.

Soil testing and targeted or varied fertilizer application on farms: A winning combination

Variable-rate input application is a technology that relies on farm equipment with global positioning system (GPS) to regulate seeding or crop input application (fertilizer, pesticides, manure, etc.) across a field depending on specific plant needs. The best way to identify nutrient needs is to test the soil. Soil testing measures key elements in the soil (e.g., phosphorus, potassium and calcium) to assess their availability to plants and identify specific nutrient needs to be addressed by applying fertilizers. Together, annual soil testing and varied fertilizer application can improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2021, 94% of field crop (oilseed, grain and pulse) farms that applied fertilizer tested their soil for nutrient content and varied their fertilizer application rate. This represents a 4% increase compared with 2017. Among these farms, 42% tested their soil every year. For forage crop (hay, silage and pasture) farms that applied fertilizer, 66% tested their soil and varied their fertilizer application rate, down 1% from 2017. However, 16% of these farms tested their soil every year, up 1% from 2017.

Global positioning system equipment is most used as a tracking or guidance system (such as auto-steer)

In addition to targeted or varied fertilizer application, GPS technology can be used in a variety of ways by farms to improve the accuracy of input application and maximize yields. In 2021, GPS equipment was most used as a tracking or guidance system (such as auto-steer), with 92% of field crop farms and 85% of forage crop farms using GPS equipment for this purpose. The activities commonly automated using this technology in 2021 were seeding and pesticide spraying.

Use of crop management techniques on the rise

Various crop management techniques can be used to increase yields and improve overall soil health. For example, fall or winter cover crops (such as red clover or fall rye) can be planted in between cash crops (income-generating crops such as wheat or soybeans) during the late summer or early fall to cover the bare soil and protect it from wind or water erosion. Another technique involves planting two or more non-competing crops or companion crops at the same time in the same field to assist each other in nutrient uptake, pest control and protection against weeds. Finally, green manure crops (such as buckwheat) can be planted with the purpose of incorporating their biomass into the soil before they reach maturity, for added nutrients and erosion protection.

In 2021, 24% of Canadian field crop farms used companion crops, fall or winter cover crops, or green manure crops as a land management practice, up 2% from 2017. Almost one-half (49%) of field crop farms in Quebec used one of these crop management techniques, up from 38% in 2017.

Manure application on farms continues to be a sustainable alternative to commercial fertilizers

The increased use of manure, compost or digestate as a fertilizer on crops has the potential to reduce agricultural GHG emissions by 10% to 20%. Overall, manure application on field and forage cropland remained stable from 2017 to 2021. When it came to the most common manure type applied to crops, dairy farms that applied liquid manure on their field crops rose 2% from 2017 to 2021, to reach 30%. Field crop farms that applied solid manure on their field cropland also increased 2%, reaching 20% in 2021.

In terms of the method of manure application on field cropland in 2021, the preferred method was broadcasting with incorporation. This method involves mixing the manure into the soil, greatly reducing runoff and increasing nutrient availability.

Chart 1 
Method of manure application on field crops, by type of farm, Canada, 2021

Majority of field crop farms rotate their crops

Crop rotation is a sustainable land management practice that can increase biodiversity, reduce soil erosion and improve crop yields with increased availability of soil nutrients for crops. In 2021, 96% of field crop farms rotated their crops.

In 2021, nearly two-thirds (65%) of field crop farms that rotated their crops used a rotation sequence that was not always the same every year.

During the same period, 31% of field crop farms rotated their crops using the same sequence each year. Of those, 31% contained a rotation sequence with a pulse crop. Pulse crops include soybeans, lentils, chickpeas, dry field peas, dry white beans and other dry beans. The increased use of pulse crops in crop rotation sequences can improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.